Thimble.



PATENTED JULY 9, 1907.

G. F. HOLDEN. THIMBLE.

APYLIOATION FILED NOV- 5, 1906.

WITNESSES INVENTUR I race Z'Jfalden/ W BYM M AT/ORNEYS r": NORRIS PETER:20., wasmuoran, a c.

GRACE F. HOLDEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

THIMB LE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1907.

Application filed November 5. 1906. Serial No. 342.061.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRACE F. HOLDEN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the countyand State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Thimble, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to thimbles such as are worn upon the finger insewing.

The object of the invention is to produce a thimble which is adapted tofold into a compact form so that it maybe readily carried in a ladyspurse or card-case.

A further object of the invention is to produce a construction whichwill enable the thimble to be readily opened out for use, by a simplemovement of its parts.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a thimble constructed according to myinvention; Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the thimbleshowing the same in its open position; and Fig. 3 is a vertical centralsection through the thimble but showing the same in its folded orcollapsed relation.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the main ring orbase ring of the thimble. This ring is of slightly conical or taperedform as shown, and provided at its lower edge with an enlargement orhead 2 such as is usually provided at this point of an ordinary thimble.Within this base ring there is arranged an intermediate ring 3 whichtelescopes therein as shown. Like the base ring, this intermediate ringis of slightly conical or tapered form and it is of sufficiently largediameter to prevent its being withdrawn in an upward direction from thebase ring. Beyond the intermediate ring 3 there is provided a cap 4,which is also of slightly conical or tapered form, presenting a roundedtop or crown 5. The lower portion of this cap is of suiiiciently largediameter to pre-' vent its being withdrawn from the upper portion of theintermediate ring. Near its lower edge the cap 4 is provided with anoutwardly projecting pin 6, and this pin is received in a bayonet slot7, which is formed in the side wall of the intermediate ring. The body 8of this slot extends longitudinally with respect to the axis of thethimble, and at its upper extremity is formed with a lateral offset orrecess 9 into which the pin may be moved as indicated in Fig. 1. Thelower edge of the intermediate ring 3 is likewise provided with anoutwardly projecting pin 10 and this pin is received in a bayonet slot11. The form of this slot is similar to that of the slot 7, the body ofthe slot being disposed longitudinally with respect to the axis of thethimble, and having a lateral offset or recess 12 in which the pin 10may be moved in the manner suggested above. When the thimble is initsopen position ready for use, its parts have the relation shown inFig. 1, the lower edge of the intermediate ring being held in the upperportion of the base ring, while the pin 10 occupies the recess or notch12 of the slot 11.

The cap 4 has its lower portion held in the intermediate ring 3 and itspin 6 is received in the laterally projecting portion of the slot 7. Itwill be understood that the movable parts or rings fit together snuglyin their extended relation, so that when the pins are in the notches orrecesses of the slots, the parts are substantially rigid with respect toeach other. The thimble may then be placed upon the finger and used inthe ordinary manner. The cap 4 is provided with the usual recesses ofnurling 13 on the outer face, so as to facilitate the application of thethimble to the needle.

When it is desired to fold the thimble up, the base ring 1 will be heldrigidly, while the cap 4 will be rotated in a left hand direction. Thismovement .will dislocate the pin 6 from the offset or notch 9 of thebayonet slot 7. A further rotation will dislocate the pin 10, and whenboth pins are brought into aline ment with the bodies of the slots 7 and11, the thimble may be collapsed into the relation shown-in Fig. 3&

,the parts all telescoping into each other in the manner shown. In thisway the thimble may be made to occupy a very small space so that it canbe readily carried in a flat purse or card case.

In one aspect, the thimble may be considered as constructed of sectionswhich telescope each other and are adapted to look by a simple movementin their extended relation. The base section or ring 1 is preferablyslightly deeper than the inner sections, so that when the thimble is inits folded relation the inner sections are neatly inclosed by the basesection.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A thimble having telescoping sections consisting of tapering rings,and means for locking the same together in an extended relation.

2. A thimble composed of a plurality of conical rings, havingpin-and-slot connections therebetween whereby said sections maytelescope together or be locked in an extended position.

3. A thimble consisting of a conical base ring, an intermediate conicalring telescoping therewith, and a conical cap telescoping with saidintermediate ring, said members having pin-audsl0t connectionstherebetween whereby the thimble may be extended, and locked in anextended condition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

v GRACE I HOLDEN.-

Witnesses F. D. AMMEN, EVERARD B. l\Z[ARSHALL.-

